The morning felt too calm.
That was the first thing Sophia noticed.
No urgency.
No raised voices.
No visible tension.
But somehow—
That made it worse.
She stood by the window again, her arms folded tightly as she watched the quiet grounds of the mansion.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
"Something's wrong," she murmured.
Behind her, Luciano adjusted his cufflinks, his movements precise, controlled as always.
"Something is always wrong," he said.
Sophia turned to face him.
"This is different."
He didn't argue.
Because he felt it too.
The silence between them stretched.
Not empty.
Just aware.
"What's the plan today?" she asked.
Luciano glanced at her briefly.
"You stay here."
Her expression hardened instantly.
"No."
A pause.
Then—
"It wasn't a request."
"And I'm not asking," she shot back.
The tension flickered back to life.
Sharp.
Familiar.
Luciano stepped closer.
"You don't understand what's coming."
"Then tell me," she challenged.
"I don't need to tell you," he said. "I need to keep you alive."
Her chest tightened.
"I'm already in this," she said. "You said it yourself."
"Yes."
"Then stop trying to keep me out of it."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
Luciano studied her.
Long.
Careful.
And again—
He didn't immediately shut her down.
Before he could respond—
A knock came at the door.
Quick.
Urgent.
"Enter."
One of his men stepped in.
"There's been contact."
Sophia's pulse spiked.
"With who?" Luciano asked.
The man hesitated.
Then—
"A neutral party."
Luciano's expression shifted slightly.
"Name."
"Marco DeLuca."
Sophia frowned.
"Who's that?"
Luciano didn't answer her.
His focus was on his man.
"What does he want?"
"He's requesting a meeting."
Silence.
Then—
"Why?" Luciano asked.
The man glanced at Sophia briefly.
Then back at Luciano.
"He says… he has information about Isabella."
Sophia's heart skipped.
This could be important.
Too important.
"It's a trap," Luciano said immediately.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
The man nodded slightly.
"Most likely."
Sophia stepped forward.
"Then why even consider it?"
Luciano's gaze shifted to her.
"Because sometimes traps are useful."
Her brows furrowed.
"That doesn't sound safe."
"It's not."
Sophia's chest tightened.
"Then don't go."
Luciano didn't respond.
And that silence—
That silence told her everything.
"You're going," she said.
"Yes."
Her pulse quickened.
"I'm coming with you."
"No."
The answer was immediate.
Sharp.
Final.
Sophia stepped closer.
"You said I stay with you."
"This is different."
"You said I don't leave your side."
Luciano's jaw tightened.
"That was before this."
"No," she said firmly. "That was after everything."
Silence.
Tension crackled between them.
Then—
"You're not coming," he repeated.
Sophia's heart pounded.
"Then I guess you're breaking your own rules."
That hit.
He didn't like being challenged.
Not like this.
Not by her.
A long pause followed.
Then—
Luciano exhaled slowly.
Controlled.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Then—
"Fine."
The word surprised her.
"You stay in the car."
Her brows furrowed.
"That's not staying with you."
"It's the closest you're getting."
Sophia hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
A compromise.
A dangerous one.
The man left quickly, preparing everything.
And just like that—
The calm morning was gone.
Replaced by something sharper.
Something inevitable.
Across the city—
Isabella stood in a quiet room.
Dimly lit.
Empty except for one table.
And one chair.
She traced her fingers lightly across the surface, her expression calm.
Patient.
Everything was in place.
Every piece exactly where it needed to be.
"Is he coming?" one of her men asked.
Isabella smiled faintly.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"He doesn't ignore opportunities."
A pause.
"And the girl?"
Isabella's smile widened slightly.
"She'll come too."
The man frowned.
"How can you be sure?"
Isabella's eyes flicked toward him.
Sharp.
Cold.
"Because she's already made the mistake of staying."
Back at the mansion—
Sophia stepped into the car beside Luciano.
Her pulse was steady.
But her thoughts weren't.
"You trust this Marco?" she asked.
"No."
"Then why go?"
Luciano glanced at her briefly.
"Because I trust myself."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"That's not comforting."
"It's not supposed to be."
The car moved.
The city blurred again.
But this time—
It felt different.
Heavier.
Like something was waiting.
Sophia glanced out the window, her reflection staring back at her.
"You can still turn around," she said.
Luciano didn't even look at her.
"No."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"Why?"
A pause.
Then—
"Because she wants me there."
Her heart skipped.
"Isabella?"
"Yes."
Sophia's stomach twisted.
"And you're walking right into it?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
The car slowed.
Then stopped.
Sophia looked outside—
And frowned.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
An empty building.
No movement.
No guards.
No signs of life.
"This doesn't feel right," she whispered.
"It's not."
Luciano stepped out first.
Sophia followed, staying close.
Just like before.
Just like she promised.
Inside—
The building was silent.
Echoing.
Empty.
Each step felt louder than it should.
Each movement sharper.
More exposed.
Sophia's heart pounded.
"This is a setup," she said quietly.
Luciano didn't deny it.
"Yes."
"Then why are we still walking?"
"Because we're already here."
They reached the center of the room.
And then—
A voice echoed.
Slow.
Clapping.
"Well done."
Sophia froze.
Her heart dropped.
She knew that voice.
Isabella stepped out from the shadows.
Elegant.
Calm.
Completely in control.
"I was wondering how long it would take," she said, her eyes flicking to Sophia.
"And of course… you brought her."
Luciano's expression didn't change.
"You talk too much."
Isabella smiled.
"And you underestimate me."
Sophia's pulse raced.
Her instincts screamed at her.
This is wrong.
This is bad.
"You really thought I'd just attack blindly?" Isabella continued. "No plan? No strategy?"
Luciano's gaze sharpened.
"What do you want?"
Isabella tilted her head slightly.
"Simple."
A pause.
Then—
"I want to see what you'll choose."
Sophia's breath caught.
"What does that mean?" she whispered.
Isabella's eyes met hers.
Cold.
Calculating.
"It means," she said softly, "one of you doesn't walk out of here the same."
The air shifted.
Danger closing in from every side.
And Sophia realized—
Too late—
This wasn't just a trap.
It was a test.
And they had just walked right into it.